Tour of duty in China part 1

Traveling in China in 1999
Portrait of children in Xiahe, China

People ask me sometimes "How did you get in Thailand?" and I answer "By airplane". But in reality it was a bit more complex, so I did write some postings about that. I did write a few stories with photos about it and I call that Blast from the past. Here are two photos made in Xiahe (China) while on tour in China in 1999. This place was one of the most impressive places to visit during my all 4 weeks tour in China.

Traveling in China in 1999
Young monks at the footsteps of the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe, China

🌍 Xiahe, Gannan, Gansu, China

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Train stations in Thailand, next station Sawankhalok

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Reposting from 2017. I love traveling by train, especially in Thailand where it is like traveling in time. It is like an open-air museum. Not only the trains itself but also the train stations. They look like they have not changed since they build the first railroad lines in Thailand in 1889. This little train station is "Sawankhalok" as end station of a small line from the "Ban Dara" railroad junction in the Northern line Bangkok-Chiang Mai. Following are some photos of this lovely small train station. If you like old Thai train stations then hurry up and visit them all as modernisation is destroying beautiful history!





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A day trip to Phu Hin Chang Si near Khon Kaen

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Reposting from 2015. After visiting a friend of us who lives near Ubolratana Lake I had the idea to try to go to the mountains area along Ubolratana lake, there is supposed to be a national park there called Namphong National Park. Well, at first we ended up at a dirt-track after a small village (thanks Google Maps) so I made a u-turn with the idea just to drive back home, but then I saw a sign "Hin Chang Si" 18 km. So I followed the road but of course never saw a sign again .... This is Thailand. But just when I wanted to take a left turn in direction of the highway I saw a sign in my rear mirror ... u-turn again and followed the signs again.

After passing the park entrance (free admission as no guards in sight) we had to drive another 8 km going up the mountain, just 200 meter before the end there is a parking place but you can drive on to the end. From there you have to start walking the last 500 meter to the top and view point. It is an easy walking trail and after 250 m…
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Meaningless borders in Loei

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Reposting from 2016. Photo above is the border between Laos and Thailand at Na Heao in Loei province. Here the border follows the Hueang River and on the Lao side of the border is Muang Pheir (Laos). But as there is no temple or school the Lao people come daily to Na Heao. At the day I was there it was Wan Phra (once a week it is Buddha day). So many Lao people were crossing the border to go to the temple together with Lao children to go to school. And from Thailand to Laos were also brought new construction materials like roof parts. And it seems that in Laos there is no recycling opportunity as old steel (old motorbike parts) were brought from Laos to Thailand. Once a week there is a market at the Thai side. Although there is a immigration office this border is (officially) of course only for locals (Thai and Lao).


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On the motorbike making a loop in Northern Thailand

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Reposting from 2013. Following is a Just Back Trip Report by motorbike from Khon Kaen to Lampang and Chiang Mai, then from there up north to the Thai-Burmese border and then via Chiang Rai to the Thai-Lao border area to follow the border south in direction of Dan Sai and Loei to ride back to Khon Kaen again. A 7 day trip of in total 2.170 km, covering the area of the old Lanna Kingdom, Burmese settlements, former Chinese KMT strong-holds and beautiful national parks. A wide variety of culture and landscape. Most roads were in good condition, some roads were in bad condition and some stretches were not roads at all. Culture-wise I did find the area north of Chiang Dao the most interesting, a place to come back! Following is a day 2 day report with photos & text. Enjoy!

Day 1 : From Khon Kaen to Lampang (530 km) The  beginning of my tours is almost always the same, first via route 12 to Chumpae and Lomsok and then a bit in direction of Phitsanulok. Then half way I took a right turn t…
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Chinese heritage near Nan town

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In my serie about cemeteries here some photos from the Chinese graveyard near Nan town, located along route 101 about 1 km west of the airport. The light was not so good in the early foggy morning. For more information about why this kind of cemeteries look like this see Feng Shui Cemetery. In Nan town is also the Chinese Bung Thao Kung Shrine. And really in town are also a few Chinese graves. Spread over Nan province you will find a few more Chinese graves and shrines.


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Reposting from 2017. The Golden Buddha, officially called Phra Phuttha Maha Suwana Patimakon, is seated in a new marble temple building at the Wat Traimit in China Town in Bangkok. The Buddha is probably made in the Sukhothai period and weights 5.500 KG of said to be solid gold. It is said that the gold was discovered by accident as the all statue was casted in cement. When transported to the Wat Traimit a piece of cement did break and people saw the gold. Or at least that is the story. Since 2000 I must have been here a dozen times and I prefer the old style temple before the renovation. 


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Coffee time at SALAD NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่ in Pua

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Last week we had a coffee & choco at a new cafe (openend July 2020) SALAD NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่, it is a bit difficult to find as it is behind Nan Auto Repair Service, located along route 101 a few km north of Pua town. We enjoyed a delicious hot choco and hot lemon tea. But their speciality is a Salad & Fruit Buffet with a good looking & clean salad & fruit bar. We will try that next time!

Getting there : Drive along route 101 from Pua to Chiang Klang, after about 3 km is on your right hand side a car repair shop. Drive into it and you will see SALAD NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่ behind the car repair shop. You can park in front of the car repair shop or drive into the place and park behind SALAD NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่.
Information of SALAD NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่Along route 101 about 3 km north of Pua townFacebook : SALAD NAi SHANG คาเฟ่หลังอู่Kitchen : Hot & Cold drinks, Salad buffet & small snacksOpening hours : 10:00 - 20:00Seating : Outdoors + Indoors with air-…
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Visiting Phitsanulok again

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Reposting from 2017. Phitsanulok is mostly famous for its evening market along the Nan River and the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat but of course there is much more to see. And when visiting Phitsanulok we were invited to make a small tour in the city, to see a bit more of the old history of the city. But with all the rain from the past days some temple complexes were a bit flooded, like here at the ruins of Wat Chula Manee. It is supposed to be the oldest temple in Phitsanulok build in the Sukhothai era. For me the most interesting was a Chedi where stairs are leading to the top where originally was a huge sitting Buddha image (but of course moved to Bangkok). Following are a few more photos.







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Safe travels my dear friend

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A few days ago the news about his death reached us, we did became befriended when he was working at our house last year. He became only 63 years and left behind a wife, daughter and 3 brothers. A hard working man from a small village in Pua district. Always friendly, always smiling and always willing to help. And never complaining about his own problems, maybe he should have .... cancer is high on the list of cause of death in Thailand. Especially upcountry where it is not easy to get good healthcare. So yesterday evening we went to the third & last evening wake and that was a bit different as normal. As normally there is a group of monks chanting for a good return in the circle of life & death. But this time there was only 1 monk. A famous one in Nan province, from a Buddhist meditation center. He started to talk about the life of our friend and he tried to make it a nice story to listen to, with a joke & smile. Then he talked about the problems & joy in all our lives…
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Dragons & Temples in Den Chai

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Reposting from 2016. Traveling in South East Asia (Thailand included) you might have seen your share of temples. Some people get "temple tired". And although I must have seen hundreds of temples by now I am not boring of temples. Not for religious reasons but for the beautiful art of building temples and Buddha images. And many times temples are at very nice locations in the mountains. As with this temple also. I have been passing this temple many times and thought "I have to stop here next time". And until yesterday I never did. In front of the temple is a huge reclining Buddha, not fully finished yet. You walk up to the stairs that are overgrown by flowers and think to arrive at a abandoned temple. But nothing like that as there is actually also a small road going up and behind (higher) are at least 3 pagoda's in beautiful design with 100's of black Buddha's. But more about that next week when I am back home. For more photos see also Buddha's Feet…
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